Lakeland Police Scandals: Time To Look Closely

The future of the Lakeland Police Department, City Manager Doug Thomas and Police Chief Lisa Womack were the subject of 4 hours and 36 minutes of reports, comments and discussion.

The future of the Lakeland Police Department, City Manager Doug Thomas and Police Chief Lisa Womack were the subject of 4 hours and 36 minutes of reports, comments and discussion before the Lakeland City Commission one week ago.Some say that, with the detailed presentation of a final report by the Police Advisory Commission, and an accompanying report by Thomas and Womack, the City Commission has in its hands the solutions it needs.This is the time, they say, to tuck in the covers and put to sleep analysis of an ongoing series of scandals. That continuum includes illegal police withholding of public records; on-duty police sex; incompetent criminal investigations and trial testimony by officers; urgent calls for help to the city's 911 center that were ignored; and more.No, this is not that time. It would be premature to move ahead to a healing phase, as Thomas urges.

DOUBTERSIf the five city commissioners other than Don Selvage and Howard Wiggs continue to find poor performance and ongoing discovery of police problems insufficient reason for firing Thomas or Womack, more effort is needed.Filling two holes in the doubters' understanding of the city's swath of law-enforcement sin should provide the reasons, consequences and solutions:■ An anonymous survey of police employees that is prepared and conducted by independent specialists. It would tell how officers regard Womack, her staff, supervisors and departmental policies.Such a survey would be repeated periodically in the Police Department, and other city departments, with results compared from survey to survey. It was one of the 22 Advisory Commission recommendations.In comments accompanying the recommendation, the advisers said, "We believe that conducting a values survey of all city employees (customized for the LPD) is the highest priority."If the survey succeeds, it will constitute a legacy for which the 10 hardworking volunteer members of the Advisory Commission will long be thanked.■ An invitation to State Attorney Jerry Hill to appear before the full City Commission, and explain the reasons for his comprehensive criticism of the Lakeland Police Department and its leadership.In a Sept. 27 letter to Thomas, Hill wrote, "Throughout this year, I have expressed my serious reservations about the condition of the Lakeland Police Department and the lack of leadership."

DANGERHill gave an example: "Yesterday, I charged Lakeland Police Officer Julio Pagan with two counts of armed sexual battery by a law-enforcement officer and armed aggravated stalking. While Officer Pagan will be held responsible for his criminal behavior and will be prosecuted by my office, this case has revealed, yet again, a deeper problem — one of which you have been well aware and simply chose to ignore at the public's peril."Such an onerous warning must not be overlooked. The City Commission doubters should hear from Hill in person and question him closely. They may find his criticism of city leadership distasteful, but ensuring that justice is carried out — from police officers' first contact with suspects, witnesses and victims through prosecution — is his job.This state attorney of 33 years, whose investigations resulted in the resignation of Polk County Sheriff Dan Daniels in 1987 and the replacement of troubled police chiefs in several cities since, has experience and wisdom that the commission would be derelict to ignore.As Wiggs said to Thomas, following his report: "You have to be open to the fact that you might not be doing everything exactly the right way. And if you're not, be willing to change. That's one of the most frustrating things in this organization among a lot of folks — the feeling that no matter what we discuss, no matter how many things we put on the board, how many written rules we have, how much training we have that, at the end of the conversation, you're going to continue to do it just the way you've always done it."An intellectually rigorous evaluation will show that the leadership of Thomas and Womack has failed, and that they should be fired. The commissioners who are doubtful owe Lakeland's residents the time and open-mindedness to hear from Hill, and hear from the officers and other employees through an independent survey that is conducted without delay.